fuel tank install 3m5200 to plastic shim strips, zinc chrom.

[aquaprouts]

Hi all....getting ready to install my new 45 gallon aluminum  fuel tank into the coffin of my 196.  Question about zinc chromate priming the tank.  Should I zinc chromate the bottom of the tank and then 3m5200 the 1/4 " plastic shim strips to the bottom of the tank? Or, Should I 3m5200 the plastic shim strips to the bare aluminum and then prime the bottom? Not sure about the adhesion of the 3m5200 to the zinc but suspect it will be fine(?).  What are your thoughts about venting the coffin compartment to prevent condensation of such a sealed space?  Should there be any small weep holes in the coffin compartment in the event that somehow water were to to get in there?  Thanks for your help!...Happy Boating!

[gran398]

You can prime it first then glue it, won't hurt a thing. As you know, some folks don't prime at all. Many trains of thought on gas tank installation.

Yep, you definitely need weep holes fore and aft for drainage and airflow. Half inch or so, nothing too dinky.

How are you planning to chock the corners and top?

[aquaprouts]

have not got to the chocking yet.....some suggest simply 3ming the tank to the coffin floor and use no chocks at all....any thoughts/suggestions welcome....staps, blocking it in from the top????

[gran398]

That's what Pascoe says, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to do it that way.  Especially running rough water. So we used gallon ziplok bags in each corner  filled with closed-cell foam....then hollow fiberglass girders across the top, glassed to the coffin.

Plenty of other methods, but this worked for us. No stainless straps, rubber, or treated lumber. No galvanic corrosion/crosstalk issues

[Curious]

Here's how I did mine:

http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=10536.0

I did it this way after doing a ton of research.  Decided to stay away from coating it with anything, decided to stay true to the Pascoe method and decided to add a pressure treated wood chock to the coffin sides to screw the tabs into at the top.  Don't think its going anywhere.  I also drilled some small weep holes at the rear bottom and a big hole in the rear coffin wall right near the bottom to screw one of those expandable rubber garboard plugs into.  So if any water does get in there I can open that up and let it run out.

Good luck.  I didn't have a clue how to do any of this until I read all about it on here.  Another CAS success story!

[gran398]

Dan, yes it was, and what a nice job! Great thread to re-read too, thanks for the link. Typical of us....good work mixed in with some laughs